Audition Information for The Foreigner
Audition Notice:
by Larry Shue
Produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service
Directed by Jamie Hutteman
When: Sunday, June 8, 5-8pm and Monday, June 9, 6-9pm
Where: Old Courthouse Theater Blackbox
49 Spring St. NW, Concord, NC 28025
Performances: August 7-10 and August 15-17, 2025
Please click the link to select and sign up for an available audition time slot: The Foreigner Audition Sign Ups
Click here for a tentative rehearsal schedule.
Please bring a resume and be prepared to list any commitments that would conflict with rehearsals on your audition form. Headshots are appreciated but not required.
Questions? Contact Jamie Hutteman at tmjhutt@gmail.com
Synopsis: The setting is Betty Meeks’ fishing lodge in rural Georgia often visited by “Froggy” LeSueur, a British demolition expert who occasionally runs training sessions at a nearby army base. This time “Froggy” has brought along a friend, a pathologically shy young man named Charlie who is overcome with fear at the thought of making conversation with strangers. So “Froggy,” before departing, tells all assembled that Charlie is from an exotic foreign country and speaks no English. Once alone the fun really begins, as Charlie overhears more than he should—the evil plans of a sinister, two-faced minister and his redneck associate; the fact that the minister’s pretty fiancée is pregnant; and many other damaging revelations made under the pretense that Charlie doesn’t understand a word being said. The fact that he does fuels the nonstop hilarity of the play and sets up the wildly funny climax in which things go uproariously awry for the “bad guys,” and the “good guys” emerge triumphant.
Casting the following characters:
Sgt. Froggy Lesueur- male, late 40’s-50’s- a cheerful, well-fed, adventurous fellow, Froggy is a traveling explosives training expert for the British Army. Froggy speaks with a British accent (cockney).
Charlie Baker - male, late 40’s-50’s- An Englishman and the foreigner of our story. A meek proofreader for a science fiction magazine, Charlie is witty, funny, and smart, but extremely shy. At the start of the play Charlie is quiet, lost, and forlorn but he comes out of his shell while staying at Betty’s lodge, eventually finding himself at the center of attention and the story’s unlikely hero. Charlie speaks with a British accent.
Betty Meeks- female, 70’s- an elderly widow who owns a resort fishing lodge in rural Georgia and dotes on her guests. Like everyone, Betty is wise about some things and naive about others. Betty is very nurturing to all who come in contact with her. She is a hard worker, but it is getting hard for her to manage the lodge by herself. Betty speaks with ‘the hardy local dialect’.
Owen Musser- male, late 20’s-40’s- an ignorant, superstitious, volatile racist that lives in town. As the newly appointed Tilghman County Property Inspector, he has plans for Betty’s property and he is willing to get it through any means necessary. Owen speaks with a southern dialect.
Rev. David Marshall Lee- male, late 20’s-30’s- Engaged to Catherine, David appears to be “a regular fellow” and “a good young man to have on our side.” Though he seems humorous, friendly, charming, and open, when he is alone with Charlie he begins to show his true colors as a devious, two-faced snake in the grass. David speaks with a proper southern dialect.
Catherine Simms- female, 20’s- Catherine is a pretty, former southern debutante and care-giver to her brother, Ellard, since her parent’s death.. Though she has just inherited the family fortune, Catherine is going through an emotional time and finds herself taking Charlie into her confidence rather quickly. Catherine speaks with a proper southern dialect.
Ellard Simms- male, teens-early 20’s- Catherine’s dim-witted younger brother and heir to half the family fortune. He is a kind, gentle hearted, but backward and insecure young man who is typically underestimated and tries the patience of those around him. He spends much of his time kneading something tiny and invisible in front of his chest. Charlie helps Ellard gain confidence in his own abilities while Ellard helps Charlie to become more patient and light hearted. Ellard speaks with a southern dialect.
